News
Category:
Wisconsin
Bill allows communities more control over wind turbine setbacks
January 6, 2012 by Trent Artus in WQOW TV 8
January 6, 2012 by Trent Artus in WQOW TV 8
"Local communities should be able to create their own rules for public safety," Lasee said. "We shouldn't leave it to bureaucrats in Madison to make these decisions that affect home values and people's lives. Madisonites aren't the ones living next to the turbines.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Zoning/Planning]
A proposal to build a wind farm in western Wisconsin is back despite the opposition of local government officials, who rescinded permits for the project and adopted a moratorium on wind projects.
The proposal from Emerging Energies of Wisconsin was filed with the state Public Service Commission.
Also filed under [
General]
Two Wisconsin groups representing energy consumers contend the Wisconsin Public Service Commission should have applied stiffer approval criteria to the project. The commission has countered that such standards don't apply to out-of-state facilities.
Also filed under [
General]
Wind turbine regulations still up in air
December 5, 2011 by Clay Barbour in Wisconsin State Journal
December 5, 2011 by Clay Barbour in Wisconsin State Journal
Officials with the Public Service Commission are still holding on to a set of wind siting rules that were supposed to go into effect almost nine months ago.
Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/ask/catching-up-wind-turbine-regulations-still-up-in-air/article_2cceeccc-1f44-11e1-ad64-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1ffypIae8
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Wind turbines to Mount Pleasant Board, no Plan Commission OK
November 28, 2011 by Heather Asiyanbi in Mount Pleasant Patch
November 28, 2011 by Heather Asiyanbi in Mount Pleasant Patch
Trustees Harry Manning and Gary Feest were both present and gave their input about the turbines; Manning saying he didn't feel the Planning Commission could move forward without an ordinance.
"I think we should consider a stay until the state figures out where its going with turbines," he said.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Minnesota wind farm suit forwarded to high court
November 28, 2011 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel
November 28, 2011 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel
In 2009, two customer groups challenged the Public Service Commission's decision to grant a permit for Wisconsin Power & Light Co. to build the $460 million Bent Tree Wind Farm in Minnesota to meet Wisconsin's renewable energy standard.
Two Wisconsin energy consumer groups contend the Wisconsin Public Service Commission should have applied more restrictive approval criteria. The commission has countered that process doesn't apply to out-of-state facilities.
Study evaluates bat deaths near wind turbines
October 30, 2011 by Jill Sakai in University of Wisconsin News
October 30, 2011 by Jill Sakai in University of Wisconsin News
Nearly 75 percent of the bats had broken bones, mainly in the wings, and the majority had sustained a mix of skeletal fractures and soft-tissue damage such as ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and hernias.
Also filed under [
Impact on Bats]
The Public Service Commission has been taking the lead in trying to forge a compromise - holding discussions with wind developers and wind critics, said utility spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch.
"Negotiations between the parties are still going on, and the PSC is trying to help find consensus," Ruesch said.
Also filed under [
General]
Walker and others, including Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Ledgeview, have said the rules should be reviewed again, with more consideration given to those living near wind farms. Some residents have complained of noise and visual impacts from wind turbines, which can be up to 300 feet tall.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Wisconsin wind turbine moratorium sought by Sen. Frank Lasee, R-Ledgeview
October 11, 2011 by Doug Schneider in Green Bay Press-Gazette
October 11, 2011 by Doug Schneider in Green Bay Press-Gazette
A bill he introduced Monday would declare a moratorium on construction of wind farms until the state Public Service Commission is in possession of a report that ensures turbines like those dotting the landscape in this southern Brown County town don't cause health problems.
Also filed under [
Impact on People]
Wisconsin wind turbine moratorium proposed
October 10, 2011 by Doug Schneider in Greenbay Press Gazette
October 10, 2011 by Doug Schneider in Greenbay Press Gazette
State Sen. Frank Lasee plans this afternoon to introduce a bill that would prohibit the construction of wind turbines in Wisconsin until the state Public Service Commission receives a report on the health impacts of the turbines on people and animals.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in potential economic development are stuck in limbo as officials continue to argue over new wind siting rules. ...Now, some seven months later, PSC officials say they are no closer to a deal than when they started. Meanwhile, wind farm developers such as Midwest Wind Energy and Redwind Consulting are sitting on their hands, and their money.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Manitowoc County Board votes against wind turbine moratorium
September 21, 2011 by Sarah Kloepping in Herald Times
September 21, 2011 by Sarah Kloepping in Herald Times
The motion for the moratorium, which would have temporarily prevented construction of turbines with a capacity of more than 100 kilowatts, failed 14-8, with two supervisors absent and board chairman Paul Tittl abstaining because he owns stock in Broadwind Energy.
Also filed under [
General]
Plan for Milwaukee Port Authority wind turbine stalls; Board seeks female or minority contractor participation
August 18, 2011 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel
August 18, 2011 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel
Plans to build a 154-foot wind turbine to generate power for the Milwaukee Port Authority stalled Thursday over the lack of minority and female business participation in the lowest bid on the construction contract.
Also filed under [
General]
The Massachusetts-based company is eliminating about 150 positions worldwide due to falling revenues, it announced Wednesday. ...The announcement is a significant blow to the firm, which had been touted in 2009 by President Obama as an example of the growing "green energy" sector in the U.S.
Wind farm developers face uncertainty in state; Investment stifled by changing industry regulations
July 2, 2011 by Clay Barbour in Herald Times Reporter
July 2, 2011 by Clay Barbour in Herald Times Reporter
Probably the oddest aspect of the business-vs.-environment debate is the role of wind energy. One might assume a fast-growing "clean energy" industry such as wind would appeal equally to both sides. But so far, that has not been the case.
The argument over wind power has divided entire communities in the state's rural areas.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the project came to a halt amid concerns - expressed by board members and would-be neighbors - over noise, the turbine's appearance and possibly decreasing neighbors' property and home values.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
A power giant is hoping to bring more high-voltage transmission lines to Madison, promising to deliver clean and green energy from the west.
But critics are questioning the logic of building a 150-mile power line for electricity that could be generated closer to home.
Also filed under [
Transmission]
"The majority of condemnations involve small amounts of land taken from ordinary people. Taken together, that adds up to a lot of value that should be protected, and property rights are fundamental to our republic," said Robert Roth, a Menomonee Falls lawyer who specializes in eminent domain cases.
Also filed under [
Transmission]
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